Goddess of the Hunt, Surrender of a Siren, and A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare

This is a rather long post. It's my reviews of all three books by Tessa Dare. I figure I'd just post them all together, since the books are the continuation of characters. This is such a lovely trilogy! Most especially the second book, Surrender of a Siren. But as a whole, I loved it! Tessa Dare is an amazing writer, and I look forward to her next trilogy coming out next year (even though it's not my normal historical setting). She simply has a way with words that I love reading!

Goddess of the Hunt
Book One
July 28, 2009

Lucy and Jeremy

I read this book based on the recommendations of my lovely friend Christine. This time period usually isn't what I choose to read for Historical romances, but I am so glad that I did. Jeremy and Lucy were so very fun and entertaining.

Lucy is on a hunt to capture the one man she has 'loved' nearly her entire life. She fears that if she doens't act soon, then this love of hers, Toby, is going to propose to another woman, Sophia. So Lucy sneaks away to the bedroom of a long time friend, Jeremy, one night and seeks out practice at seduction. Now this is a man Lucy has forever ribbed and taunted, trying for eight years to get under his skin. That night soon leads to Jeremy acting the besotted fool toward Lucy in an attempt to make Toby jealous. However, Jeremy claims to be doing it to protect Lucy from making a fool of herself, but what neither of them realize, is love really is blooming, just not where either of them ever expected!

There were some truly lovely scenes in this book. Some will make you laugh, some will make you want to yell at Lucy to grow up, and others will make your palms sweaty from the heat that generates between Lucy and Jeremy. Tessa Dare has some amazing prose. Several places I marked to go back to reread through. Several paragraphs that just left you breathless.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the second, which is Sophia's book and third, which is Toby's book. Both are characters that I enjoyed reading, especially Sophia. Even though she was a rival to Lucy in this book, you couldn't help but like her!

Surrender of a Siren
Book Two
August 25, 2009

Sophia and Gray

Sophia Hathoway, a beautiful London society miss, flees her family and betrothed mere days before her wedding. Seeking passage aboard the Aphrodite under the guise of a governess, Sophia longs to feel passion. She's tired of being treated like the prim, proper and innocent young woman she was raised to be. For deep inside Sophia resides a yearning for passion and the sweet seduction of a man. Aboard the Aphrodite, Sophia is swept away on the grandest adventure her heart could ever desire!

Gray swore that he would turn over a new leaf, becoming a respectable man in societies eyes, but most importantly in the eyes of his brother Joss, who happens to be the captain of the Aphrodite.In the past Gray has done things that's shamed him, and he's ready to start anew in an attempt to make up for his selfishness. But he never anticipated the beauty seeking passage aboard his ship. With her seductive innocence, Gray is left with a terrible ache for the woman known to him as Ms. Jane Turner. He never thought being respectable could be so hard.

Neither Gray nor Sophia expected the raging storm, sweeping them into a vortex of desire and yearnings the likes of which neither of them ever experienced.

The second book in Tessa Dare's trilogy, and I loved it more than the first one! Tessa Dare is simply amazing with her prose. Delightfully enchanting, her words connect seamlessly, creating wonderful characters and some very hot, very intense scenes. My favorite being the one that Gray pushes Sophia head first into her own raging passions during his sitting when she sketches him.What a breathtaking scene. It even brought a tear due to its intensity.

Surrender of a Siren ranks exceedingly high on my list of historical romances, and I'm left without any hesitation to pick up another of her books in the future. She's definitely made her place among my keeper shelf!

A Lady of Persuasion
Book Three
September 29, 2009

Isabel and Toby

After reading Goddess of the Hunt and Surrender of a Siren, I was eager to read this third in the trilogy about Bel and the poor jilted Toby. And what a wonderful set of books these are.

Toby's determined to gain some sort of revenge on the man who 'stole' his intended, the beautiful Sophia, and Bel is determined to find a man with decent political standings in order to become a 'lady of influence' among London society. There's no room in her life for love and desire, not with her goals for charity and helping the less fortunate. Yet Toby awakens within her a craving for passion that terrifies her.

Their marriage is nearly doomed from the beginning, for Toby promises things that he shouldn't, only to appease Bel in order for her to find him to be the one suitable husband she seeks. Each of them have their doubts of worthiness regarding their own significance to the other. I think Tessa Dare did an outstanding job formulating how Toby and Bel struggle with their issues and realize and come to terms with their shortcomings.

I wasn't sure what I thought of Bel in the beginning, with her rather 'holier than thou' attitude in her quiet and innocent sort of way. But over the course of the book, I began to understand and accept her behavior and beliefs. That's the one thing about how a person is shaped after tragic incidents in their past. You just don't know. Everyone deals with things differently and takes from them what they will, shaping them into who they will become. And with what Bel suffered with her mom, her father, and her brothers, well, I can understand how she would grow to want the things she does and fear the things she fears, such as desire and love.

I greatly enjoyed the conclusion of this trilogy with Bel and Toby. And I loved the way all three books tied into the other. Such wonderful characters. It was a pleasure spending more time with Lucy and Jeremy, and Sophia and Gray. And even the side story with Gray's and Bel's brother, Joss and Lucy's physician, Hetta. That was a sweet surprise and one I was very thankful to read!

A fine historical trilogy, one I would not hesitate recommending to others!

www.tessadare.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Thanksgiving Poem

T’was the night of Thanksgiving,

But I just couldn’t sleep.
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned,
The dark meat and white.
But I fought the temptation,
With all of my might.
Tossing and turning,
with anticipation.
The thought of a snack
became infatuation.
So I raced to the kitchen,
Flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge,
Full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey,
And buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots,
Beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling,
So plump and so round.
‘til all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling,
Floating into the sky,
With a mouthful of pudding,
And a handful of pie.
But I managed to yell
As I soared past the trees
Happy eating to all,
Pass the cranberries, please!!
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
May your pies take the prize
And May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs!
by Lauren

Happy Thanksgiving.
I wish you all a beautiful day!

My Unfair Lady - Kathryne Kennedy

My Unfair Lady
by Kathryne Kennedy
December 1, 2009

www.kathrynekennedy.com

Born and raised in the infamous town of Tombstone, frontier lass Summer Lee is far from one of London’s gently breed society ladies. But London is where she is looking to hire a titled man to teach her the ways of ladies.

You see, after Summer’s father made a fortune doing this and that, he uprooted her to New York city where a handsome young man named Monte caught her fancy, and he’s asked her to marry him, but his family snubs their nose at her because of her lack of propriety. Summer’s not too suave when it comes to upper-class formalities.

So it’s off to London for some training. Lord Byron, Duke of Monchester finds himself filling that precarious position as his need for the money she offers overrides his better judgment.

Neither Byron nor Summer are looking for a love match. But after much time spent attending balls, and dinners and the occasional deal that may or may not include a kiss, as well as a dose of danger. Summer and Byron are finding it easy telling their heads nothing is happening between them. It’s trying to convince their hearts. That stubborn organ doesn’t appear to want to listen.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I’ve read Kathryne Kennedy’s Relics of Merlin series and while those are filled with magic, I felt that My Unfair Lady was filled with magic as well. Not in the paranormal sense, but in the writing. Ms. Kennedy weaved her characters together in such a way that you could feel Summer as her unconventional behavior penetrates Byron’s cold façade, chipping away the layers to the true man beneath. And the love between them felt as accidental as it was meant to be. Another sweetly sensual tale weaved and brought to life by one of my favorite writers! However, I did grow a bit concerned with the continued motivation of Summer toward the end to continue carrying the pretense she wanted to be a lady for the sake of her vow to Monte. But all in all, it moved along swiftly. And I adored the secondary cast of ‘critters’. Most especially, India, the monkey!

The moral of this story...Be happy for being who you are. Don't change yourself for love or for social standings, love will find you. The right person will embrace you, stand beside you, and support you for being you. And that's what both Summer and Byron learn in this book. My Unfair Lady is a remarkable tale of love and acceptance.

More Reviews of My Unfair Lady-

Mandi @ Smexy Books
Marissa @ ROOB

Other books by Kathryne Kennedy:

The Relics of Merlin Series

(I loved these books!)

Janet Chapman - A Highlander Christmas

A Highlander Christmas
by Janet Chapman
Highlander Series Book Seven
November 2009

I'm a sucker for Janet Chapman! I can't help but simply love her books...All of them! There's just something about 'em :).

Camry, a rocket scientist like her mother, fears the magic that seems to inflict everyone in her family. After losing her job at NASA from stress and lack of focus, no thanks to another scientist in France, a man who questions one of her formulas through email and he just happens to be right, Camry flees and secrets herself away in the small coastal town of Go Back Cove.

Then a handsome stranger shows up, and Camry finds herself forced by the magic she fears to reevaluate her life. But Camry soon discovers that this stranger is not actually a stranger at all, but the very scientist whom Camry had the unfortunate pleasure of passing emails with--Lucian Renoir, or rather Luke Pascal. Camry and Luke realize that there's no point in fighting the magic, for Providence will have it's way.

When I pick up a Janet Chapman book I know I'm going to get something special. Something filled with magic and a sweetly sensual romance. I'm going to get two people falling in love with fun and witty dialogue along the way. And in A Highlander Christmas I got just that. This one is another of her wonderful Highlander novels Starring Camry MacKeage, one of the seven daughters of Greylen and Grace MacKeage who began this delightful series in Charming the Highlander.

Another lighthearted tale by Janet Chapman. Just right for this holiday season to brighten your day and warm your heart!

BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC!

Waiting on Wednesday

It's been awhile since I've done a "Waiting on Wednesday". I kinda miss doing them too. Nothing like talking about books, eh? So I thought I'd share a few books I'm waiting to release on November 24th.

The first one being Karen Ranney's new one, Sold to a Laird. My last two experiences reading her books were extremely gratifying. Devil Wears Tartan and A Scotsman in love. Both were very emotional. However, A Scotsman in Love really hit a nerve. I love that book and think of it often. Just the loneliness each of them feel was so well done.

Karen Ranney - Sold to a Laird

Lady Sarah was the daughter of the Duke of Herridge, and had come to expect almost anything of her father. When he insisted that she marry a perfect stranger, a man who was nothing but an adventurer, he went too far.

She might have married to save her mother, but she wasn't going to like Mr. Eston. Nor was she about to share her life, her thoughts, or her bed with him!

He was the most maddening man, forever challenging her. Why, for example, did he insist on being naked most of the time?

Douglas Eston hadn't expected to find himself married to a woman so much more elevated in rank than he. In fact, he hadn't any rank at all, growing up an orphan on Perth's streets and alleys. But he'd become an inventor, of sorts, and along the way, made himself wealthy.

The woman he'd met in London stunned him, and as he grew to know her, elicited his admiration, summoning feelings he'd never thought to have. Now, all he needed to do was convince Lady Sarah to give their marriage a chance.

Second on the list is Margaret Mallory's second book, Knight of Pleasure. I won the first book from Anna's blog a few months ago and thought the book was outstanding. So naturally I had to add the second book to the list! Looking forward to reading another fine Medieval tale!

Margaret Mallory - Knight of Pleasure

Lady Isobel Hume is an expert swordswoman who knows how to choose her battles. When the king asks her to wed a French nobleman to form a political alliance, she agrees. But that's before the devilishly charming Sir Stephen Carleton captures her heart-and tempts her to betray her betrothed, her king, and her country.

Sir Stephen Carleton enjoys his many female admirers-until he dedicates himself to winning the lovely Isobel. When a threat against the king leads Isobel into mortal danger, Stephen must prove that he is more than a knight of pleasure ... and that love can conquer all.

And last on the list, but certainly not least, is Stephanie Tyler's Hard to Hold. I forgot about this new series until I seen Lea post an early review for it the other day. I wanted to check this new one out of hers since I really enjoy her and Larissa Ione's duel writing under the name Sydney Croft with their ACRO series.

Stephanie Tyler - Hard to Hold

Lt. Jake Hansen has survived some of the riskiest missions known to man. But now the wounded Navy SEAL faces his toughest job yet: Smuggling Dr. Isabelle Markham out of Africa without triggering an international incident. Not easy to do when the gorgeous hostage happens to be a senator’s daughter —and about as easy to resist as an oasis in the desert…

If it weren’t for Jake, Isabelle would still be halfway across the world, where rebel forces left her for dead. The Special Ops warrior may have saved her life, but she doesn’t need him to protect her now. Tell that to the ruggedly handsome hunk in full battle fatigues who’s just been assigned Isabelle’s personal bodyguard. Close quarters aside, Isabelle won’t let Jake anywhere near her heart — until danger throws them together again…and nothing in the jungles of wildest Africa could prepare them for a passion this wild. This crazy. This hot….

So there you have it! The three books I'm waiting on. What books are you waiting for that release on the 24th?

Diana Pharaoh Francis - The Black Ship

The Black Ship
By Diana Pharaoh Francis

Book Two in the Crosspointe Chronicles

The Crosspointe Chronicles

Before there was Thorn, there was Sylbrac, and before him there was Fish. But before each of them, there was Geoffrey Truehelm, son of the lord chancellor of Crosspointe, and after a terrible incident in his youth, he swore he would never let his father use him in such a manner again and fled. He became known as Fish, and over the years he made his way on the cruel streets and eventually found himself a position on a ship, where he later discovered the blessings of being a Pilot--a rare and highly prized person to navigate the seas. Without them, ships have no chance surviving all the dangers that lie in wait. And on that day, Fish died and Sylbrac was born.

Now finding himself betrayed and sold by, Sylbrac can only assume, his own fellow Pilots, Sylbrac leaves that name behind and calls himself Thorn. Now the Pilot aboard the Eidolon, along with a motley crew who have been given another chance at the open sea, risk their lives in order to see a ship filled with unknown cargo to its destination. At first Thorn sees his kidnapping as a curse, but later sees it only as a gift as he makes friends from the most unlikeliest of people. And friends are something Thorn never thought he needed or wanted. Of course, that is what got him in this predicament in the first place, never making any alliances within the Pilots Guild, and realizing too late the error of his ways.

Brilliantly crafted and fully realized world, Diana P. Francis excels at writing a believable and highly engaging fantasy. I found myself immersed and lost aboard the Eidolon, for which Thorn was kidnapped to Pilot this illegal ship, otherwise known as a Black Ship. The crazy amount of research she had to do in order to make the scenes come to life aboard the ship was astonishing in my eyes.

The Black Ship is fraught with perilous adventure, raging sea storms, and the dangers that lie within the depths of the water, as well as a need to learn what it is exactly this black ship is transporting. The vivid characters drove this story. Thorn is such a great character. At first you think him rather selfish, but that's just the way of Pilots. But then you see that he is different from the rest of his ilk. He actually cares, and is quite an honorable guy. There is much fantastical things to sink your teeth into within the pages of The Black Ship, and I found it to be quite an experience, full of action and adventure! This is an amazing author whom I've grown quite fondly of since reading the two books I've read--This one and The Cipher (Book one in the Crosspointe Chronicles. And I loved it too!)

So put on your majicked boots and clothes to keep yourself dry and hop aboard the Eidolon for a sweeping adventure on the Inland Sea. But watch out for the silvery majickal substance known as sylveth, for it could turn you into spawn, a hideous and evil type of creature!

The Turning Tide is the third book in the Novels of Crosspointe. I still need to get it. And I'm wondering if I can still get it the same way I got the first two? The Cipher and The Black Ship I purchased directly from Ms. Francis's local bookstore and she came in and signed both books for me before the owner mailed them out! So I think I would like to have all the Crosspointe books that way if I can. I must email to see if I can still do that.

And coming June 2010...Book four in the Crosspointe Chronicles, The Hollow Crown!

I am also working on collecting this trilogy of hers as well. So far I have the first book!

The Path Books



And there is one last book of her's to mention, the first book in her Horngate Witches series--Urban Fantasy style. I have this one also!

Horngate Witches

www.dianapfrancis.com

New Fantasy Romance Series Coming in 2010!

I was browsing and happened to stumble across this new series on Amazon! It sounds pretty good...another Fantasy Romance series to add to the reading list :). I love it when books are released close together as this trilogy is.

You can visit L.J. McDonald's website here.

THE BATTLE SYLPH (Book One)

In a world where Elemental Sylphs are used for slave labour, Solie thought her biggest problem in life was avoiding an arranged marriage with an older man. That is, until she finds herself kidnapped for use as a human sacrifice in the luring and binding of a Battler, the most dangerous kind of Sylph there is. Terrified but determined not to die, Solie fights back and finds herself suddenly the master of an immensely powerful, shape-changing creature who can take on any form she wishes.

Heyou, however, isn't the only Battle Sylph around, and the two of them are forced to run, pursued by men determined to destroy them both. With no other options left to her, Solie flees with her newfound allies to the only source of sanctuary left to them, but death is tracking them down and Heyou is filling her with desires that threaten to change the world.

RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2010


THE SHATTERED SYLPH (Book Two)

Years after Eferem and the battle on the Cliffs, Ril is a free Sylph, living with the man he still calls his master in Sylph Valley. Only Ril doesn’t care about his freedom. Instead he’s a broken creature, crippled in that final battle and, in his own mind, useless.

However, when Leon’s oldest daughter Lizzy is kidnapped by slavers and taken halfway across the world, Ril is the only one who can track her. Together, he and Leon follow to a world alien to both of them, following a bond Ril’s not willing to admit to, even in the depths of his own heart.

RELEASE DATE: April 2010


QUEEN OF THE SYLPHS (Book Three)

Life in the Valley is mostly peaceful, and newcomer Gabralina is settling in happily with her Battle Sylph Wat. The only problem is, not everyone in the Valley is interested in letting things stay the way they are and the council that advises the Queen is being targeted.

Tensions mount when even the Battle Sylphs can’t find the culprit, and a creature no one was ever expecting starts to study the Gate from the other side.

RELEASE DATE: November 2010

"Under the Mistletoe Kiss Scene" Contest

I discovered this fun contest from Sweet Vernal Zephyr's blog and thought what the heck :) (she submitted also!). I already had a scene, I only needed to shorten it to the required max limit of 400 words.

I love kissing scenes. They can be tenderly romantic, or heatedly intense, but no matter how the kiss occurs, they are one of the things I love reading in my romances. There are so many things you can do with a kiss. And so many ways you can kiss. Slow, urgent, passionate, nibbles, sucking. Up against a wall, laying down, sitting up. Hands or no hands, both can be equally intense. And that first kiss, ahhhhhh, it can be sweet, sweet bliss.

I thought I'd share my entry with you. Maybe if you like it, you could go and vote now that voting is open. Of course, you don't have to vote for mine, only if you think it's good enough :)! I would love that!

“Does that hurt,” I whispered as my fingers gently caressed the scarred flesh of his cheek. He flinched, sucking in a breath as if the touch pained him.

For a moment I thought he would push me away, but instead he grabbed my other hand and placed it over his heart and said, “Not there, but here. The scars still hurt here.”

He spoke low, but I could clearly hear the pain in his voice. The physical pain had dissipated years ago. But the emotional pain continued to haunt him.

“Let me help you,” I said. “Please, let me help ease your hurt.” I wanted him in a way I’d never wanted anyone. These past months working in his employ, I’d grown an attachment to him.

Cautiously, I unbuttoned his shirt. I leaned in, tenderly pressing my lips to his throat. I lifted my head and my entire body trembled with passion. His gaze was fastened onto mine. The intensity, the need I saw there, burned itself across my skin.

“No one has touched me as you have.” His voice was gravely to my ears, almost painful sounding.

“No one?” I repeated quietly. I ached for him, in more ways than just this lustful need to take him. My heart wanted to ease him, to please him.

He gave a slight shake of his head in answer, never one time breaking eye contact with me. Then suddenly, he flung my arms away from him. Anger or some other strong emotion contorted his face. “Why would you want to put your beautiful, delicate hands on this scar-riddled flesh?” he spat in disgust, waving his hand around the area in question.

“You don’t repulse me.”

He continued to glare at me, as if my words taunted him. As if I could not possibly mean what I said.

I reached down, gripped his hand and placed it over my heart. “Feel my heart beat? It’s pounding out of control for wanting you, for wanting you to want me.” I said quietly, yet fiercely.

He growled with barely restrained control, and grabbed my face between his hands. His lips fastened onto mine with a punishing forcefulness that shot shards of erotic yearning through me. I clung to him desperately, not wanting this moment to end. I’d dreamed too often for his touch, his kiss. It’s better than any imagined scenario I had ever conjured.

Thanks for reading!

How I Pass Away The Hours...

Just thought I'd do a little update regarding my new job. It's, umm, quite boring :). I can't read. I can't sit. There is no computer to surf the net. I'm supposed to be doing nothing but smiling and saying hi and trying to sell calenders to those walking by. Well, that's easier said than done!

I had to get a little creative, since I'm not allowed to tote my purse down to the kiosk...not sure why...but that's okay...you see I had a note book in there. I thought maybe I could pass some of the time writing. I'm sure that wouldn't be allowed either, but I had to try :). I was fumbling around under the cash register and found some paper...rolls of register tape to be exact. And well, I used some of that to write on :).

The next day, because I didn't want to get in trouble for using that paper, since it wasn't mine, I took my own! I have this rectagular pad that hangs on the fridge and so I tore off some sheets and folded them nicely in my pocket. Sounds silly, but even though I'm only there for about 3 hours, I need something to to break up the monotony of my shift.

Today, I managed to write up most of a review, and then I thought, hmmm, maybe I could write a lits of the top ten books that come to mind that I've read this year. And this is the whole point of my post! In no particular order, just the order they popped in my head, here are the top ten books that stood out the most today while I worked! :)

1. Karen Ranney - A Scotsman in Love
(When the hero and heroine finally become intimate with their first kiss, it's a scene that sent those amazing tingly zings from my head to my toes! And it made me cry!)


2. Amanda McIntire - The Diary of Cozette
(Oh, I just loved reading about Cozette, and her sexual explorations and growth.)

<center><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/141/C6649DFBCFEC11BB76F4C601E0F5114F.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /> <img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/himscute/Bookwyrm1-1-3.jpg" /></center>3. Megan Hart - Broken
(Well, this one left me emotionally drained. Very intense reading for me.)


4. C.L. Wilson - Queen of Song and Souls
(Hmmm, CL Wilson! Need I say more :)?)


5. Pati Nagle - The Betrayal
(This one always stays with me becasue I think it's neat that the antagonists are worth rooting for just as much as the protagonists. And the antagonist is on the cover!)


6. Denise Rossetti - The Flame and The Shadow
(I really loved the element of Gray's Shadow. Very different and unique. Added a super touch!)


7. Eve Silver - Seduced by a Stranger
(Her books are always stored closely away. This one both fascinated and blew me away. I love her Gothic Historicals.)


8. Anne Bishop - The Shadow Queen
(It's Anne Bishop and I love anything the woman writes! And I'm always thinking about what is going to happen with Cassidy and Gray in the next book, Shalador's Lady.)


9. G.A. Aiken - What a Dragon Should Know
(If you haven't read this series, you should! Gwenvael is one of the best hero's I've read. He's just so funny!)


10. Leanna Renee Hieber - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
(Man, that is one mouthful of a title...But I love it! And I love the book. It's sweet, with a bit of a Gothic moodiness to it.)


What are a few books that come to mind right away of books you read this year?